Rideau Centre

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Mall facts and statistics
Rideau Centre
The Rideau Centre at Christmas

Location	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Opening date	March 16, 1983
Developer	Viking Rideau, Eaton's
Management	Cindy VanBuskirk
Owner	Viking Rideau Corporation
No. of stores and services	171
No. of anchor tenants	1
Total retail floor area	1,021,827 ft² (91,965 m²)
Parking	1,590 spaces in two indoor lots and a surface lot
No. of floors	3
Website	http://www.rideaucentre.net/

Rideau Centre is a three-level shopping center on Rideau Street in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It borders on Rideau Street (and the Byward Market), the Rideau Canal, the Mackenzie King Bridge, and Nicholas Street.

At the time of its construction in 1981 and 1982, the Rideau Centre was somewhat controversial. Many people were opposed to the destruction of several heritage buildings on Rideau Street. Others feared the impact of increased traffic and buses on the area. The Eaton's department store chain, one of the partners in the development, caused further controversy when it attempted to rename the mall the "Rideau Eaton Centre" while it was still under construction; the company backed down in the face of local opposition to the name change.^[1]

The Rideau Centre opened on March 16, 1983, and today it is a major transport and shopping hub in downtown Ottawa. Originally containing the Eaton's and Ogilvy's department stores, prominent retail tenants now include Sears Canada, Harry Rosen, Birks, American Apparel, Club Monaco, Old Navy and Shoppers Drug Mart. The Bay and Chapters are located adjacent to the Rideau Centre, with an enclosed skywalk connecting the Rideau Centre to The Bay. The centre's proximity to the shops in the Byward Market and on Rideau Street, and its location near most of the City's main attractions, contribute to its status as one of the region's top shopping and tourist destinations.

The Rideau Centre complex also includes approximately 180 other retailers, the Westin Hotel, a rooftop park, a movie theatre and the Ottawa Congress Centre. With 740,757 square feet (66668 m²) in size it is the fourth largest shopping centre in the Ottawa-Gatineau area (behind the St. Laurent Centre, Les Promenades de l'Outaouais and Bayshore Shopping Centre). Significant expansions of both the Rideau Centre and the Convention Centre are planned for the near future.

The Rideau Centre also has a rooftop garden with views of part of the Byward Market, the Rideau Canal, the Château Laurier, and the Parliament buildings. During the annual Tulip Festival, the garden is filled with tulips.

The Rideau Centre and the adjacent National Defence building are both served by OC Transpo's Mackenzie King Transitway station, which is served by a number of major bus routes and will also be a stop of the extended O-Train line.

A transit study in 1996 showed that 60 percent of the shoppers were using public transit most notably due to very frequent service from several cross-town routes coming from all areas of Ottawa as well as some additionnal service from STO buses in Gatineau.[2] Sparse and expensive parking in the Rideau Street area may also suggest the higher percentage of shoppers taking the bus.